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In order to promote the establishment of this third school, a meeting was held on, 12th January, 1869, when a Committee of seven was elected, and a new school established. The opening of this school caused the one at Brockville to be closed.
The first Valley School was built near the present Roslyn Tram Sheds, and consisted !of one room, which soon proved most unsuitable for school purposes, but was put up with for about three years, when the Committee resolved to make an appeal to the Education Board for a more suitable building. Their application was successful, but the Board stipulated for a better and more central site, 'and as a result part of the present school area was secured for school and master's residence.
Mr. H. F. Hardie, architect, of Dunedin, then submitted plans for a wooden school of three rooms, a photo of which is inserted herein. In August, 1872, the tender of Mr. Robert Williamson, builder, of Sunnyside, Roslyn, was accepted. The School Committee are fortunate in having presented to them by his widow the original plans of this building, and they are hung in the Fifth Standard room, where the many interesting curios donated by the scholars and friends are formed into a, museum by Mr. H. P. Kelk. The old wooden school was ready for occupation on 12th January, 1874. It was then known as "Linden" School, and served the district well for ten years. As showing how durable were the timbers used in its construction, we would point out that upon its demolition part of the building became play-sheds; one wing was made into a large gymnasium, and sometimes class-room, and has just recently been removed to a new position of the play-ground and made into an open play-shed; another part was made into the janitor's house, which still stands; and still another part became the workshop of the Education Department, and was for some years situated on the site now occupied by the King Edward Technical School in Stuart Street, where many of our scholars are augmenting their education.
The growth of the population and the popularity of the School again forced the Committee to apply for more rooms. which were eventually granted by the Board. The number of pupils increased rapidly, and in 1895 reached 893, but since the erection of a school at Maori Hill, which was formerly part of the Kaikorai School District, the roll shows to-day about 650 pupils.